CLARE HAUGHEY MSP ENCOURAGES SHOPPERS TO KEEP IT LOCAL

SNP MSP Clare Haughey is encouraging consumers in Rutherglen to shop locally and support the 9,050 small businesses in the local economy.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting businesses in Scotland, including retailers, providing the most competitive package of non-domestic rates reliefs anywhere in the UK in the 2018/19 budget. This includes the Small Business Bonus scheme that has already saved smaller firms £1.5bn, lifting 100,000 business premises out of rates altogether.

SNP MSP for Rutherglen Clare Haughey commented:

“Shopping locally is good for communities, good for the environment and great for the local economy, supporting 46,930 workers in South Lanarkshire in small businesses.

“Today’s market provides many new challenges for retailers, including the move to online shopping as well as Brexit-fuelled inflation and more expensive imports that translate into higher prices at the checkout. Brexit is the biggest threat facing the Scottish economy and the SNP will continue challenging the Tory government’s extreme Brexit plans and standing up for Scottish businesses and jobs.

“Given these challenges, wherever possible, we should all seek to support Rutherglen’s huge variety of brilliant independent, locally run businesses. Each small business offers something unique and special, and it is important that we support them and help our local economy to thrive in a market that is increasingly dominated by the big players.”

ENDS

Notes:

Below is a photograph of Clare Haughey MSP at Padano’s restaurant on Small Business Saturday 2017.

• Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 99% of all of Scotland’s businesses.
• These firms provide 1.2 million jobs, 55% of private sector employment.
• Official data shows that there were 365,600 private sector businesses operating in Scotland during 2017, up 3 per cent from 2016.
• 40% of Scotland’s private sector turnover can be attributed to SMEs
• SMEs provide 4 out of 5 private sector jobs in rural areas.